Stapling machine



STAPLING MACHINE Filed June 26, 1939 3 Sheets- Sheet l May 7, 1940.

A. H. SCHMIDTKE 2.199.679

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I nu M y 7, A. H. SCHMIDTKE 2,199,679

STAPLING MACHINE Filed June 26, 19-39 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 7, 1940 PATENT OFFICE 2,199,679 STAPLING MACHINE Albert H. Schmidtke, St. Joseph, Mich., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Greif Bros. Cooperage Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application June 26, 1939, Serial No. 281,059

20 Claims.

The machine of the present invention isdesigned primarily for the stapling of a metallic strip overlapping the adjoining edges of a cylindrical barrel body, although the machine might be employed in the stapling of similarly configured bodiesintended for other uses. v

In the making of cylindrical barrels or receptacles, it is customary to form the barrel bodies of plywood suitably treated and bent to cylindrical shape, and while in this condition to secure the adjacent edges of the body by means of stapling or the like; and in such operation it is customary to overlap the adjacent edgesby a metallic strip through which the staples are entered so that a close and firm joint will be afforded. In such an .operation it is necessary that the edges of the body be held close together in a plane running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the barrel, so that the ends will register within the same. transverse plane and without jogs or offsets at the ends of the joint.

The machine of the present invention is, designed as a semi-automatic machine which will accurately position the barrel body in preparation for the stapling operation and will evenly space the staples which are driven through the metallic strip, which is fed forward with the barrel body by the operation of the machine. Provision is also made for the cutting off of a strip after the stapling operation .hasbeen completed and at a point which will prevent any protrusion of the strip beyond the end of the barrel body.

Further objects and details of the invention will appear from the description thereof in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure l is a side elevation of the machine as a whole;

Fig, 2 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, showing the knife for severing the metallic strip;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but, showing additional features of the mechanism, and taken through the longitudinal center of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail taken on'line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the lateral guides for the work;

Fig. '7 is a per'spective'view of the roller support for the work; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail of the clamp for adjustably supporting one of the brackets which carries a lateral guide.

The machine as a whole comprises a heavy rugged framelt supported upon a base plate H,

and including a standard l2 upon-"which is mounted an overhanging frame I3 which in its general structure is of the character employed in stapling machines of the conventional type. The

upper portion of the overhanging frame carries stapling mechanism of a character well understood in the art and which need not be described in detail, except in so far as is necessary to a clear understanding of the special features of the present invention.

The stapling mechanism and thespecial feeding mechanism presently to be described are driven from a motor M which as shown is mounted upon a bracket l5 and serves to drive a clutch [6 through the medium of a belt or chain drive [1. The clutch is operated-by a rod l8 connected at its lower end with a crank arm l9 carried by a rock shaft 20 suitably actuated by a foot treadle 2|. The clutch drives a shaft 22 terminating at its forward end in a crank head 20 23 which through a pitman 24 reciprooates a stapling head 25 of the usual character.

The staples are cut and formed from continuous duplicate wires A which pass through tubes 26 and are cut off and formed into staples in the 25 usual manner, so that with eachreciprocation of the stapling head two staples will be driven in abreast relationship and on opposite sides of the joint being'formed.

The metallic strip B which is provided to overlap the joint is fed from a reel 21 at the rear end of the machine, and as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 advances through a guide'channel 28 which overlies a' guide plate 29'having on its under side wooden facing panels 30 which lie on opposite 5 sides of a separator blade 3| which stands vertically on edge and is socketed within an anvil 32 having a rounded upper face '33 upon which the margins of the-barrel body rest during the stapling operation. 'Theanvil constitutes a part 40 of the upper frame of the machine and extends forwardly to the stapling position which is indicated by the letter S.

The separator blade 3|, at its forward end 34,

is tapered down substantially'to the level of the 4 anvil surface at the stapling point, so that as the strip B emerges from the forward end of the channel 28 it will dip down toward the anvil and in position to lie closely upon the margins of the barrel body at the instant when duplicate staples are driven through the strip on opposite sides of the joint between the contiguous edges of the barrel body.

The separator blade 3! is of sufficient height,

save at its tapered forward end, to support the IS guide plate 29 and guide channel 30 at a sufficient height to permit the positioning of a barrel body C, which is slipped in by the operator from the forward end of the machine with its contiguous edges slightly separated by the separator blade and overlying the rounded upper surface of the anvil. The position occupied by the barrel body at the beginning of the stapling operation is indicated in dot-dash lines in Figure 1.

In order to sustain the barrel body in proper position, a lower guide 35 and two lateral guides 36 are provided. The lower guide occupies a center position at the required distance below the stapling point, and consists of two side rails 31 carrying rollers 38 and provided at its forward end with inclined guide rods 39 (Fig. 7) which facilitate the positioning of the barrel body.

In order to adapt the machine to barrels of varying diameter, the lower guide 35 is supported upon a bridge bar 40, the ends of which are slidably mounted within guide standards 4| (Fig. 2), so that the bridge bar may be raised and lowered by the rotation of spur pinions 43 meshing with racks 44 and mounted upon a shaft 45 carried by the bridge bar and rotated by a hand wheel 46. This enables the operator to adjust the lower roller guide 35 to the desired height. The support afforded by the lower roller guide is supplemented by the lateral guides 36 each of which is in the form of an inwardly opening channel bar 41 provided with inwardly presented rollers 48 which bear against the opposite sides of the barrel body.

In order to afford a throated entrance between the lateral guides 36, the channels at their forward ends are provided with inwardly converging tongues 49. Each of the lateral guides is supported upon an obliquely disposed bracket bar 50 provided with a slot 5|, which bracket bars are slidably supported within obliquely extending channels 52 in the guide standards 4!. Each of the brackets is held in adjusted position by a cap plate 53 which is drawn down into clamping engagement with the bracket bar by a screw bolt 54 which permits the lateral guides 36 to be adjusted in oblique lines to conform to the adjustment of the lower guide to afford a proper contact and support for the barrel body of the intended diameter. When the barrel body is inserted in position as in Figure 1, its inner end is brought into engagement with companion abutments 55, which are curved on their inner edges 56 and in conjunction provide an archlike structure separated in its center to embrace the guide blade 3|. The respective abutments are carried at the forward ends of rods 51 and 58, each of which is slidably guided within lugs 59 on the sides of the upper frame, and the two rods at their rear ends are connected by a bridge bar 60 (Fig. 1).

The guide rod 58 is provided with ratchet teeth 6! and constitutes the feeding element for the combined abutments which advance in unison. A step by step feeding advance of the abutments is afiorded by a dog 62 carried at the lower end of a lever 63 pivoted at its center on a pivot 64 and oscillated by a jointed pitman 65 slidably mounted within a sleeve 66 and having at its forward end a pin or roller 6'! which rides within a cam groove 68 on a cam 69 carried by the main operating shaft 22, so that, as the shaft is rotated at the desired speed to cut off and drive the staples in the usual manner, the barrel body will be advanced step by step to the stapling position.

In order to disengage the dog from the ratchet teeth concurrently with the disengagement of the clutch IS, the clutch rod I8 is provided with a pin 10 which engages the forked end of the lower arm of a bell crank lever H, the upper end of which is connected by a link 12 with a push rod 13, so that concurrently with the disengaging of the clutch the push rod will be shoved under the dog 62 and hold it out of engaging relation with the ratchet teeth 6|.

At the forward end of the anvil is located knife mechanism which comprises a fixed cutter 14 which cooperates with a shear blade 15 carried by a vertically movable cutter bar 16 mounted within a suitable guideway TI and adapted to be actuated by a hand lever 18 having a pin and slot connection 19 with the cutter bar. This permits the operator to force down the shear blade against the tension of a spring 80 to shear off the metal binding strip at the conclusion of the stapling operation.

In order to cut the strip at a point slightly in advance of the rear edge of the barrel body to prevent any protrusion of the metal strip beyond said edge, the fixed cutter I4 is undercut at the point 8| so that the operator may shove the end of the barrelagainst the forward surface of the fixed cutter at a point slightly to the rear of the cutting line as shown in Fig. 3, so that the strip will be severed at a point slightly in advance of the end of the barrel body.

Operation In use, the operator first inserts a barrel body in position by contacting the abutments which are forced back to the degree required to permit complete insertion of the barrel. The adjustment of the lower guide and lateral guides permits a barrel of the intended diameter to be accurately inserted, so that the edges of the margins will contact the separator blade 3! and lie upon the rounded upper surface of the anvil and will thus be held against canting or displacement and in proper register for the stapling operation. After the barrel body has been thus inserted in position, the operator draws for- Ward the metallic strip which is guided to overlie the joint, and when the forward edge of the strip is brought into register with the outer end of the barrel body and overlapping the joint, the operator works the foot treadle to start the operation of the machine.

After each stapling operation, which drives two staples through the metallic strip and the margins of the barrel body, the ratchet mechanism provided will advance the forward body to the next stapling position so that the stapling will proceed in timed relation to the advancement of the barrel body, with the result that the staples will be accurately spaced and in exact alignment throughout.

After the stapling operation has been completed, the operator disengages' the clutch, which simultaneously stops the feeding and stapling operation through the connections provided. He thereafter swings the end of the barrel down into the position shown in Fig. 3, and operates the cutters tosever the metallic strip at a point slightly within or in advance of the rear end of the barrel, so that there will be no protrusion of the strip beyond the barrel. The flexible character of the metallic strip permits the operator to properly position the leading end of the strip with relation to the barreLand after the first stapling operation the strip will be drawn forward by the advance of the barrel body.

The machine as a whole is one which permits the stapling of barrel bodies or like symmetrical structures in a rapid and uniform manner, and insures equal spacing of the staples and correct register of the adjacent edges of the body, which are only slightly separated by the thin guide plate, so that there can be no twisting or canting of the edges due to inequality in the spacing-and guiding f the barrel body as the stapling operation progresses.

Although the invention has been described with particularity as to detail, it is not the intention, unless otherwise indicated in the'claims, to limit the invention to the precise form shown, since modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. In the claims, where the term barrel body is employed, it is intended to cover any similar structure adapted to be stapled by'the mechanism of the present invention. I

I claim:

1. In a stapling machine of the character described, the combination of means for applying staples through a binding strip and through the opposed edges of a barrel body, an anvil standing in opposed relation to the stapling mechanism and adapted to support the contiguous edges of the barrel body from within, means for guiding the binding strip to overlap the opposed edges of the barrel body at the stapling point, and means for advancing the barrel body in timed relation to the stapling operation.

2. In a stapling machine of the character described, the combination of means for applying staples through a binding strip and through the opposed edges of a barrel body, an anvil standing in opposed relation to the stapling mechanism and adapted to support the contiguous edges of the barrel body from within, means for guiding the binding strip to overlap the opposed edges of the barrel body at the stapling point, and means for advancing the barrel body step by step in timed relation to the stapling operaion.

3. In a stapling machine of thecharacter described, the combination of means for applying staples through a binding strip and through the opposed edges of a barrel body, an anvil standing in opposed relation to the stapling mecha} nism and adapted to support the contiguous edges of the barrel body from within, means for guiding the binding strip to overlap the opposed edges of the barrel body at the stapling point. and means for advancing the barrel body in timed relation to the stapling operation, said means including an abutment for engaging the rear end of the barrel body and dog and ratchet mechanism actuated by connections with the stapling mechanism.

4. In a stapling machine of the character described, the combination of means for applying staples through a binding strip and through the opposed edges of a barrel body, an anvil standing in opposed relation to the stapling mechanism and adapted to support the contiguous edges of the barrel body from within, means for guiding the binding strip to overlap the opposed edges of the barrel body at the stapling point, and means I for advancing the barrel body step by step in timed relation to the stapling operation, said means including an abutment for engaging the rear end of the barrel body and dogand ratchet mechanism actuated by connections with the stapling mechanism.

52-'In a stapling machine of the character described,'the combination or means for applying staples through a binding strip and through the opposed edges of a barrel body, an anvil standing in opposed relation to the stapling mechanism and adapted to support-the contiguous edges of the barrel body from within, means for guiding the binding strip to overlap the opposed edges of the barrel body at the stapling point, and means for advancing the barrel body in timed relation to the stapling operation, and guide means for engaging the bottom'and sides of the barrel body and holding the same in position during its advancement. -6 In a stapling machine of the character described, the combination of means for applying staples through a binding strip and through the opposededges'of a barrel body, an anvil standing in opposed relation to the stapling mechanism and adapted to support the contiguous edges of the barrel body from within, means for guiding thebinding strip to overlap the opposed edges of-the barrel body-at the stapling point, and means for advancing the barrel body step by step in timed relation'tothestapling operationfand guidemeans for engaging'the bottom and sides of the barrel body and holding the same in position' during its advancement.

'7. In a stapling machine of the character described, the combination of means for applying staples through'a binding strip and through the opposed edges of a barrel body, an anvil standing in opposed relation to the stapling mechanism and adapted to support the'contiguous edges of the barrel body from within, means for guiding the bindingstrip to overlap the opposed edges of the barrel body at the stapling point, and means for advancingthe barrel body. in timed relation to the stapling operation, said means including an abutment for engaging the rear end of the barrel body. and dog and ratchet mechanism actuated by. connections with the stapling mechanism, and guide-means for engaging the bottom and sides of thebarrel body and holding the same inposition during its advancement, said means being adjustable to barrel bodies of difierent diameters. v

8. Ina "stapling machine of the character described, the-cornbination'of means for applying staples through 'a binding strip and through the opposed edges of a barrel body, an anvil standing in opposed relation to the stapling mechanism and adapted to supportthe contiguous edges of the barrel body from within, means for guiding the binding strip to overlap the opposed edges of the barrel body at the stapling point, and means for advancing the barrel body step by step in timed relation to the stapling operation, said means including an abutment for engaging the rear end of the barrel body and dog and ratchet mechanism actuated by connections with the stapling mechanism,and guide means for engaging the bottom and sides of the barrel body and holding the same in position during its advancement, said means being adjustable-to barrel bodies of different diameters.

9. In a stapling machine of the character described, the combination of means for applying staples through a binding strip and through the opposed edges of a barrel body, an anvil standing in opposed; relation to the stapling mechanism and adapted to support the contiguous edges of the barrel body from within, means for guiding the binding strip to overlap the opposed edges of the barrel body at the stapling point, and means for advancing the barrel body in timed relation to the stapling operation, and guide means for engaging the bottom and sides of the barrel body and holding the same. in position during its advancement, and a separator blade positioned to afford contact on opposite sides for the contiguous edges of the barrel body to hold the same in register during the advancement and stapling of the barrel body.

10. In a stapling machine of the character described, the combination of means for applying staples through a binding strip and through the opposed edges of a barrel body, an anvil standing in opposed relation to the stapling mechanism and adapted to support the contiguous edges of the barrel body from within, means for guiding the binding strip to overlap the opposed edges of the barrel body at the stapling point, and means for advancing the barrel body step by step in timed relation to the stapling operation, and guide means for engaging the bottom and sides of the barrel body and holding the same in position during its advancement, and a separator blade positioned to afiord contact on opposite sides for the contiguous edges of the barrel body to hold the same in register during the advancement and stapling of the barrel body.

11. In a stapling machine of the character described, the combination of means for applying staples through a binding strip and through the opposed edges of a barrel body, an anvil standing in opposed relation to the stapling mechanism and adapted to support the contiguous edges of the barrel body from within, means for guiding the binding strip to overlap the opposed edges of the barrel body at the stapling point, and means for advancing the barrel body in timed relation to the stapling operation, said means including an abutment for engaging the rear end of the barrel body and dog and ratchet mechanism actuated by connections with the stapling mechanism, and guide means for engaging the bottom and sides of the barrel body and holding the same in position during its advancement, said means being adjustable to barrel bodies of different diameters, and a separator blade positioned to afford contact on opposite sides for the contiguous edges of the barrel body to hold the same in register during the advancement and stapling of the barrel body.

12. In a stapling machine of the character described, the combination of means for applying staples through a binding strip and through the opposed edges of a barrel body, an anvil standing in opposed relation to the stapling mechanism and adapted to support the contiguous edges of the barrel body from within, means for guiding the binding strip to overlap the opposed edges of the barrel body at the stapling point, and means for advancing the barrel body step by step in timed relation to the stapling operation, said means including an abutment for engaging the rear end of the barrel body and dog and ratchet mechanism actuated by connections with the stapling mechanism, guide means for engaging the bottom and sides of the barrel body and. holding the same in position during its advancement, said means being adjustable to barrel bodies of diiierent diameters, and a separator blade positioned to afiord contact on opposite sides for the contiguous edges of the barrel body to hold the same in register during the advancement and stapling of the barrel body.

13. In a stapling machine of the character described, the combination of means for applying staples through a binding strip and through the opposed edges of a barrel body, an anvil standing in opposed relation to the stapling mechanism and adapted to support the contiguous edges of the barrel body from within, means for guiding the binding strip to overlap the opposed edges of the barrel body at the stapling point, and means for advancing the barrel body in timed relation to the stapling operation, the anvil at its forward end being undercut to afiord an abutment for the rear end of a barrel body and a fixed cutter edge above and in advance of said undercut, and a movable knife blade coacting with the cutter edge.

14. In a stapling machine of the character described, the combination of means for applying staples through a binding strip and through the opposed edges of a barrel body, an anvil standing in opposed relation to the stapling mechanism and adapted to support the contiguous edges of the barrel body from within, means for guiding the binding strip to overlap the opposed edges of the barrel body at the stapling point, and means for advancing the barrel body in timed relation to the stapling operation, and guide means for engaging the bottom and sides of the barrel body and holding the same in position during its advancement, the anvil at its forward end being undercut to afiord an abutment for the rear end of a barrel body and a fixed cutter edge above and in advance of said undercut, and a movable knife blade coacting with the cutter edge.

15. In a stapling machine of the character described, the combination of means for applying staples through a binding strip and through the opposed edges of a barrel body, an anvil standing in opposed relation to the stapling mechanism and adapted to support the contiguous edges of the barrel body from within, means for guiding the binding strip to overlap the opposed edges of the barrel body at the stapling point, and guide means for engaging the bottom and sides of the barrel body and holding the same in position during its advancement, said means being adjustable to barrel bodies of different diameters.

16. In a stapling machine of the character described, the combination of means for applying staples through a binding strip and through the opposed edges of a barrel body, an anvil standing in opposed relation to the stapling mechanism and adapted to support the contiguous edges of the barrel body from within, means for guiding the binding strip to overlap the opposed edges of the barrel body at the stapling point, and a separator blade positioned to afiord contact on opposite sides for the contiguous edges of the barrel body to hold the same in register during the advancement and stapling of the barrel body.

17. In a stapling machine of the character described, the combination of means for applying staples through a binding strip and through the opposed edges of a barrel body, an anvil standing in opposed relation to the stapling mechanism and adapted to support the contiguous edges of the barrel body from within, means for guiding the binding strip to overlap the opposed edges of the barrel body at the stapling point, and guide means for engaging the bottom and sides of the barrel body and holding the same in position during its advancement, and a separator blade positioned to afio-rd contact on opposite sides for the contiguous edges of the barrel body to hold the same in register during the advancement and stapling of thebarrel body.

18. In a stapling machine or the characte" described, the combination of means for applying staples through a binding strip and through the opposed edges of a barrel body, an anvil standing in opposed relation to the stapling mechanism and adapted to support the contiguous edges of the barrel body from within, means for guiding the binding strip to overlap the opposed edges of the barrel body,

at the stapling point, the anvil at its forward end being undercut to afford an abutment for the rear end of a barrel body and a fixed cutter edge above and in advance of said undercut, and a movable knife blade coacting with the cutter edge.

19. In a stapling machine of the character described, the combination of means for applying staples through a binding strip and through the opposed edges ofa barrel body, an anvil standing in opposed relation to the stapling mechanism and adapted to support the contiguous edges of the barrel body from Within, means-for guiding the binding strip to overlap the opposed edges of the barrel body at 1e stapling point, and guide means for engaging the bottom and sides of the barrel body and holding the same in position during its advancement, the anvil at its forward end being undercut to afford an abutment for the rear end of a barrel body and a fixed cutter edge above and in advance of said undercut, and a movable knife blade coacting with the cutter edge.

20. In a stapling machine'of the character described, the combination of means for applying staples through a binding strip and through the opposed edges of a barrel body which is movable axially through the machine, an anvil standing in opposed relation to the stapling mechanism and adapted to support the contiguous edges of the barrel body from within, means for guiding the binding strip to overlap the opposed edges of the barrel body at the stapling point, and means for holding the barrel in a fixed rotative position during its movement through the machine.

ALBERT H. SCHMJDTKE. 

